RICHMOND, Va – Among the 10 places newly listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register are an entertainment center that served Black and White patrons during 20th-century segregation; a local landmark symbolizing the regional growth of one of the most iconic brands in the nation; and a property that represents the history of plantation agriculture in Southside Virginia before, during, and after the Civil War.

The Commonwealth’s Board of Historic Resources approved the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) listings during its quarterly public meeting on March 21, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia. The VLR is the commonwealth’s official list of places of historic, architectural, archaeological, and cultural significance.

At the conclusion of its meeting, the Board approved the following places for listing in the VLR:

• Constructed in three phases starting in 1927, the Staunton Coca-Cola Bottling Works building is a local landmark located on a major thoroughfare in the City of Staunton. While the bottling business moved to a larger facility in the 1970s, the building represents the regional growth of the Coca-Cola Company in Virginia during its years of operation by producing soda, serving as a steady source of employment for local citizens, and playing an active role in the Staunton community.
• Located on the banks of the Maury River in Buena Vista, the water-powered Columbian Paper Company mill serves as a rare, well-preserved example of a historic complex associated with paper production, one of the city’s leading industries from the late 19th to mid-20th century.
• Built in ca. 1820, the Paxton House in Rockbridge County is a notable example of the Federal architectural style, a design that was popular in the region during the early years of the American republic. The house embodies the characteristics of a significant period of construction in American architectural history through its layout, materials, and stylistic touches.

DHR will forward the documentation for these newly listed VLR sites to the National Park Service for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Listing a property in the state or national registers is honorary and sets no restrictions on what owners may do with their property. The designation is foremost an invitation to learn about and experience authentic and significant places in Virginia’s history. Designating a property to the state or national registers—either individually or as a contributing building in a historic district—provides an owner the opportunity to pursue historic rehabilitation tax credit improvements to the building. Tax credit projects must comply with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.